How Max Beyond was made entirely in Unreal Engine

Screenshot from the animated film Max Beyond
(Image credit: Hazimation)

Making a feature film is a challenge – and when it’s an animation, the process can be even more complex than shooting live action. However, thanks to motion capture technology, it’s a little more accessible than it was before.

Max Beyond is a 90-minute stylised CG film that follows protagonist Leon’s brother, who has dimension-hopping powers that catch the attention of nefarious agents. It was rendered entirely as final pixels (no compositing etc) out of Unreal Engine 4.26.2. Director Hasraf “HaZ” Dulull knew from the start that motion capture would be the key to getting all the animation done. Despite being created during the Covid lockdown and having a globally distributed workforce, HaZ took this as an opportunity to work in an entirely new way.

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Joe Foley

Joe is a regular freelance journalist and editor at Creative Bloq. He writes news, features and buying guides and keeps track of the best equipment and software for creatives, from video editing programs to monitors and accessories. A veteran news writer and photographer, he now works as a project manager at the London and Buenos Aires-based design, production and branding agency Hermana Creatives. There he manages a team of designers, photographers and video editors who specialise in producing visual content and design assets for the hospitality sector. He also dances Argentine tango.

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